CANTERBURY CROPS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26971, 21 February 1953, Page 5

CANTERBURY CROPS

WHEAT, PEAS, AND WHITE CLOVER

POOR YIELDS EXPECTED The plight of wheat, pea and white clover crops throughout Canterbury is featured in the monthly report on crop conditions just released by the district fields superintendent of the Department of Agriculture (Mr C. C. Leitch K

As for wheat, the high incidence of mildew experienced in Canterbury had been aggravated by the activities of Fosarium footrot fungus and crops of Cross 7 in particular have been seriously affected in many areas. In the Waimate area Cross 7 yields to date have been poor with a high percentage of “pinched” grain. Dreadnought crops, although lodged, should yield well, notwithstanding that some grain may be “pinched.” Cross 7 and Yielder crops in Timaru districts are also affected by mildew and it is anticipated that there will be very little good seed available from the current harvest. Most grain samples will be “pinched” and barely suitable for milling. Yields to date are not promising and crops appear to deteriorate as they apprdach harvesting. In Mid-Canterbury a similar position prevails and Cross 7 crops have suffered 'severely, but Yielder and to a lesser extent, Hilgendorf crops promise better yields. Average yields and quality of Christchurch district Cross 7 crop will be fair to poor, says the report, especially with those crops grown on 'the heavier soil types. Some good crops are expected on light land. College Hunter, Yielder and Fife Tuscan crops promise good yield? and Hilgendorf, though affected by Musarium and ear blight should average better than Cross 7. Unfavourable ripening weather has resulted in disappointing yields ol wheat from Nelson and Marlborgugh crops. Samples are nearly all of poor colour and yields well below average, Oats and Barley Oat crops throughout Canterbury have progressed exceptionally well and harvested crops in South Canterbury are returning heavy yields. Broken weather interfered with harvesting ir North Cantrebury and rust infection has affected the quality -of a numbei of lines. The harvest is virtually complete in Marlborough where yields *br« above average. In Waimate where heading of earlysown crops of barley. has been com pleted, yields of up to 70 bushels. ar acre have been obtained and samples are of excellent quality. Late-sowr crops are progressing favourably. Fail yields and fair quality grain samples are being obtained from Timaru district crops. In Mid and North Canterbury crops arp variable and thougl: some high yields have been obtained, it is not anticipated that the average will be above normal. Favourable growing weather has improved South Canterbury crops, but the over-all average yield is not, says the report, expected to'be high. In Mid-Canterbury some crops are progressing well, though slight rust infestation is reported. Crops which were damaged in December have not made a good recovery. North Canterbury crops are making good progress. Potatoes, Onions, Peas January rains have benefited North Canterbury crops of potatoes, and some late plantings have been continued in Timaru districts. Crops on clay subsoil land are tending to die off early and blight infection has become evident, though not to any -extent except in some early King Edward crops. Mid-Canterbury crops which escaped flooding earlier in the Season are making good progress. North Canterbury crops are making good -progress, though th’ere was some loss through flooding. As for onions, wet soil conditions have affected some Christchurch district crops and present indications are for slightly below average yields. Though mildew and some wet soil conditions have affected some Marlborough crops, yields should prove satisfactory. Canterbury pea crops generally are patchy and wet weather has not improved the position. Prospects are not bright and yields are expected to be well below average. Flooding and collar rot have seriously affected many Marlborough crops. Only those crops on light, free draining land will yield satisfactorily. Grasses and Clovers Yields from perennial ryegrass areas lin the Waimate district have be£n average and most samples fairly light. The bulk of the Timaru area has been cut and threshed under variable con- ; ditions. Yields have been fair and samples good. Unsatisfactory harvesting conditions i have prevailed in Mid and North Canterbury and the harvest is later than normally. Some seed has already been lost in crops caught in the windrow during recent heavy rains. This applies especially to short rotational and Italian ryegrass areas. The incidence of blind seed disease has been low throughout Canterbury this season. Seasonal production is expected to be low. In Marlborough, losses have been occasioned by 'wet weather, and average yields will be below normal. Some excellent yields of both perennial and short rotational ryegrass seed have been obtained in parts of the Waimea county (Nelson). The white clover seed harvest in South Canterbury is expected to be comparatively small. In Mid-Canter- | bury growth is too strong for good seed yields and, with recent rains, some “sprouting” has become evident in both Mid and North Canterbury crops. Red clover areas in Canterbury are making satisfactory progress. In Marlborough, cowgrass seed crops do not appear as promising as usual and broom rape infestation is more prevalent than in recent years. Nelson crop yields are expected to be average. Wet weather is likely to lead to rust infection of Marlborough subterranean clover crops. Otherwise crops are pomising. Rainfall Statistics Rainfall statistics for January are as follows: South Canterbury: Waimate, 1.86 inches of rain on 12 days. Weather mainly fine and warm except for brief spell of wet weather towards end of month. Timaru: 2.65 inches of rain on 13 days. Weather mainly fine and hot with occasional rain. Mid Canterbury: 4.59 inches rain on 15 days. Weather changeable with , high and well distributed rainfalls. North Canterbury: Christchurch, 8.83 inches on 11 days. Rainfall was much heavier in inland (foothills) area (6.4 inches Darfield, and 8 inches Racecourse Hill). First fair and mainly fine and warm, becoming cooler, with heavy rains and some flooding towards end of month. Marlborough: 5.3 inches rain on 10 days. Exceptionally heavy rains especially about Kaikoura coast during latter half of month, with some flooding. Temperatures moderate. Nelson: 2.2 inches rain. Conditions variable but mainly fine and warm. West Coast: 4.5 inches rain on 11 days. Mainly fine and warm with dry easterly and south-westerly winds. Temperature warm to hot.

WOOL SALE DATES FOR 1953" / '

The following is a list of remaining wool sales for the 1953 season:— February 23.—Dunedin. February 27.—Invercargill. \ March 3.—Timaru. March 13.—Auckland. March 18.—Wanganui. March 23 and 25.—Napier. March 30.—Wellington. April 15.—Christchurch. April 20.—Dunedin. April 24. —Invercargill. May 11.—Napier. May 14. —Wanganui. May 18. —Wellington. May 4 and 6.—-Auckland!